Have your heating and air conditioning equipment checked by a qualified contractor every year. Heat check should be done in early Autumn and A/C check should be done in the Spring. This can help keep you comfortable, help the unit(s) run as efficiently as possible, and improve the chances of the equipment serving for its intended life expectancy.

Flush your water heater annually if it is less than five years of age. This keeps the sediment build up in the bottom of the tank to a minimum and helps to extend the service life of the appliance. Flushing an older water heater is not recommended as sediment may be protecting a weakened area of the tank and sediment removal may cause leakage. Check with the manufacturer of your water heater for instructions on draining/flushing the tank properly. For generalized instructions, here is a website to reference:http://www.ronhazelton.com/tips/how_to_drain_and_flush_a_water_heater

Cold winter weather can cause the water in the hose faucet pipe to freeze which can lead to burst pipes and potential for extensive water damage to your house. It is easy to minimize this risk by winterizing the exterior hose faucets.Below is a website with simple instructions on how to perform this important procedure:http://www.ehow.com/how_7192845_winterize-hose-bibs.html

If your house has a jetted tub; also known as a Jaccuzi or whirlpool tub, there are some health and safety tips that you will want to be aware of. Step-by-step instructions of HOW TO SANITIZE YOUR JETTED TUB:

1) Clean the tub with a household bathroom cleanser. Before sanitizing the tub, it should be as clean as possible to ensure the effectiveness of the sanitizing process. Scrub the jetted tub with a product like Soft Scrub or Clorox Disinfectant (nothing abrasive) to wash away any dirt, grime or mildew...

2) Partially fill the tub with warm water. Be sure to fill it past the jets, because you will need to turn them on during the spa sanitizing process.

3) Pour a cup of bleach or white vinegar into the warm water and turn on the jets and allow them to run for at least 10 minutes. While bleach is fairly inexpensive and works best, you might also opt to use a special jetted tub cleanser. The benefit of using these products instead of bleach is that they are formulated to sanitize the jetted tub without the harsh properties of bleach.

4) Turn off the jets and allow the solution to set for about an hour to loosen debris on the pipe interior walls.

5) Run again for about 10 minutes, drain the jetted tub.

6) Fill the tub a second time and add a few tablespoons of automatic dishwasher powder (Cascade), run for about 10 minutes and drain. This is important because bleach is dangerous if it is ingested or has sustained contact with skin and to ensure that you've gotten all of the bleach out of the tub and the jet lines. The warm soapy water will wash away any existing residue and leave your jetted tub sanitized and looking and smelling clean.

Part of my commitment to you:The ASHI Experience: What is it?The ASHI Experience is our new promise to the marketplace; a promise to deliver the most technically superior inspections that money can buy, delivered in a manner that is educational, service-oriented and focused on our customer’s having an experience that they will rave about.The ASHI Experience: How do I participate?Participation in the ASHI Experience begins with your commitment to delivering home inspections for your customers that continually exceed their expectations. This commitment is matched by ASHI in providing you training in enhanced service delivery, sales, marketing and public relations practices, and marketing materials that continually announce to the marketplace that ASHI Home Inspectors are the best in the business.The training programs and communication tools are offered to Members and Candidates with logo use privileges that participate. The financial contribution and commitment are the central components of your participation, as well as your willingness to learn, grow your business and maintain the integrity of our promises to the marketplace.

American Society of Home Inspectors® (ASHI® ) Client Bill of Rights As a profession, home inspectors have an ethical obligation to the public. This obligation includes integrity, competency, honesty, confidentiality, objectivity and an interest in public safety. Fulfilling this obligation will promote and preserve public confidence in the profession. In recognition of this obligation, we hereby promote and proclaim these rights for our clients.

I. To be assured the inspector is objective in his or her reporting and will not knowingly understate or overstate the significance of reported conditions. II. To be assured the inspector’s opinion is based on genuine conviction within the scope of his or her education and experience. III. To be assured the inspector stays current with the industry’s body of knowledge through continuing education. IV. To be assured the inspector will not disclose inspection results or client information without client approval.V. To be assured the inspector has not accepted any form of compensation for recommending contractors, services or products.VI. To be assured the inspector will not offer to repair or replace for compensation any component covered by the ASHI Standards of Practice for one year after the inspection. VII. To be assured future referrals to the inspector from real estate agents are not dependent on the inspection findings or the sale of the property. VIII. To be assured the home inspector has no financial interest in the transaction. IX. To be assured the inspector is not receiving compensation for the inspection from any other party. X. To be assured the inspector did not compensate the real estate agent or other party for the referral to the client.]]>